Table 3.

GPs' perceptions and offers of treatment for depression.

Phase of study	Offered no treatment n (%)	Offered anti-depressants n (%)	Offered follow-up or referral n (%)	Total	P valuea
Phase I
Perceived severity of depression
Moderate	10 (56)	4 (22)	4 (22)	18
Mild	36 (84)	1 (2)	6 (14)	43	0.019
Perceived life events or social problems
Present	40 (77)	3 (6)	9 (17)	52
Uncertain	5 (100)	0	0	5
Not present	1 (25)	2 (50	1 (25)	4	0.030
Perceived attitude to antidepressants
Positive	6 (46)	3 (23)	4 (31)	13
Not certain	17 (90)	0	2 (11)	19
Negative	23 (79)	2 (7)	4 (14)	29	0.045
Previous mental health problems
Yes	26 (70)	4 (11)	7 (19)	37
No/uncertain	20 (83)	1(4)	3 (13)	24	0.490
Previous treatment with antidepressants
Yes	15 (17)	4 (16)	6 (24)	25
No/uncertain	31 (86)	1 (3)	4 (11)	36	0.045
Previously known to the doctor
Well known	35 (76)	5 (11)	6 (13)	46
No/not well	11 (79)	0	3 (21)	14	0.374
Chronic physical health problems
Yes	28 (78)	3 (8)	5 (14)	36
No	18 (72)	2 (8)	5 (20)	25	0.901
Phase II
Perceived severity of depression
Moderate	3 (25)	7 (58)	2 (17)	12
Mild	25 (89)	2 (7)	1 (4)	28	0.001
Perceived adverse life events or difficulties
Present	20 (67)	8 (27)	2 (7)	30
Uncertain	2 (100)	0	0	2
Not present	6 (75)	1 (13)	1 (13)	8	0.847
Perceived attitude to antidepressants
Positive	3 (30)	5 (50)	2 (20)	10
Not certain	7 (88)	0	1 (13)	8
Negative	18 (82)	4 (18)	0	22	0.004
Previous mental health problems
Yes	8 (53)	5 (33)	2 (13)	15
No/uncertain	0 (80)	4 (16)	1 (4)	25	0.185
Previous treatment with antidepressants
Yes	10 (59)	6 (35)	1 (6)	17
No/uncertain	18 (78)	3 (13)	2 (9)	23	0.210
Previously known to the doctor
Well known	23 (68)	9 (27)	2 (6)	34
No/not well	5 (83)	0	1 (17)	6	0.243
Chronic physical health problems
Yes	21 (78)	4 (15)	2 (17)	27
No	7 (54)	5 (39)	1 (8)	13	0.236

^aPearson χ² exact test.